"Cullen! Cullen! You're going to get in trouble!"

"Just cover for me Alistair! I think it flew over here."

"Maker, Fine! Just be back before dark!"

With a huff, the first of the young Templars-in-training turned to head back towards Lothering's chantry door while the second continued his search in the overgrown rose bushes which lined the courtyard. There had been a minor incident with his sword involving playfully pretending to throw it like a lance into an imaginary demon when it slipped from his fingers and flew into the wilds behind the cleared practice area. Returning without it would be grounds for a whipping, it not removed from weapons training entirely. It wasn't something he was willing to risk so early in his apprenticeship. "Where are you?" he whispered as he rummaged through the thorns, his face and arms being scratched. "Ow!" Even with leather gloves on, a frustrated squeeze allowed for the bramble to prick his fingers.

As the sun set, his search ended and he finally sat down to lean against an old oak tree. It was difficult to breathe and he had become drenched in sweat from the weight of his new armor as time passed. The gloves came off first so he could unbuckle the rib-hugging straps and toss the plate chestpiece onto the ground. His eyes closed as he took in a deep breath, filling his lungs and enjoying the cool breeze against his freed, moist chest now exposed ever so slightly from the ties on his billowy, white shirt having come undone. "Have you given up already, Templar?" teased a mocking voice from behind a tree. Cullen jumped to his feet, grabbing a thin, broken reed switch to use as a weapon if necessary.

"Show yourself!" There was another laugh as a boy around his own age stepped into view. He had tanned-brown skin and a sun-kissed glow about him as light danced around his unusual silver-colored hair, but the most noticeable things about him were his large, bright-green eyes and cheerful smile. That, and he was holding the long sword which had lost its owner. "That! That's mine! Give it back!" After pointing a finger at the lost belonging, Cullen rushed to take a few steps forward, but found the blade lined with his neck. His hands went up as he stared down at it, dropping the stick as if it were a real threat. "…Please, I mean no disrespect," he stammered. "But my sword! I need it before I can return back to the Chantry."

"Why should I give it back?" the armed young man asked. "I saw you throw it away."

"…You saw me? You were watching?" A eyebrow was raised at this. "I…was just playing. I didn't mean to toss it! Honest! …But why were you watching me? Do you want to be a Templar as well?"

"Of course not!" was quickly protested. "There's no way I could be a Templar!"

"Why not? You're big enough."

"Because I'm…" There was a pause. "Because I'm a dragon. They don't let dragons be Templars."

"…You are not a dragon. That's ridiculous."

"I am! I can breathe fire and everything!"

"So, prove it," Cullen laughed and completely ignored the weapon still lined with his throat at this point.

"F…Fine!" Stabbing the sword in the ground, the 'dragon' put his hands up as if to do something with them. "Watch! I'll…" But he stopped and Cullen tilted his head confused as instead, the boaster looked around and began gathering up red, wild roses. After pulling petals from them until he had two handfuls, he turned with his fists being held out. "Ready?"

"Sure," Cullen smiled, crossing his arms to enjoy the show. He couldn't help by snicker as he had petals blown onto his face from the mystical creature and had to applaud the theatrics at least. Leaning over, he then picked his sword up and struck a fencing pose with it. "So, I should slay you then?" he wiggled the weapon about, only to drop it clumsily. "That…never happens to me. I swear."

"I'm sure you tell all the girls that," the other lad shrugged as he placed his hand on a tree to trace the bark as he walked behind it. "Well. Bye then." Cullen raised an eyebrow, following the boy around out of curiosity.

"Wait! Do you…? Do you live nearby? In the village?"

"Dragons don't live in villages. We'd be chased out with pitchforks," was replied with a smirk as he leaned back against the oak, pinned from the position Cullen had taken over him. "Or by junior Templars throwing their swords at us."

"It was an accident!" Cullen insisted as he took a step closer. His face was just barely two inches away. "Are you really a dragon? Your hair and eyes are a weird colour…" He took to staring into the strangely-lit green glow and silver-white fluff. "You're about my age, right? Why is your hair so pale…?" Without thinking, he tugged at a pinch of the stranger's bangs only to have his hand slapped away.

"It changed when I was really young! All dragons look differently than normal humans, you know. I don't think it looks that bad… Not as bad as yours. You have a bird's nest up there!" Fingers came to tug at one of Cullen's yellow curls and watched it delightfully pop back into place when released. "But it suits you. You're like those painting in the Chantry. The ones with the naked babies. You look just like that!"

"Well, people usually say curled straw, so that's the first time I've been called a 'naked babe'."

"I'm sure your mother called you one too once before."

"Sure, but I was a literal naked babe then!" The back and forth sent them both to chuckling, but the silence afterward was filled with awkwardness as Cullen realized he had kept the stranger close under his arm for some time and the 'beast' he had caught was no longer struggling. He pushed off though, turning to clear his throat as he felt his face flush hot from his cheeks to his ears. "I'm Cullen, by the way. Cullen Rutherford. And you are…?" There was shuffling around before the other boy decided to speak up.

"…I…should be going. Try not to lose your sword again, Master Templar." With that, he turned to leave, but stopped once again as he was called out to a second time.

"I will be one day! And even dragons have names, right? What's yours?"

"…It's…Seren and if you come to the rose bushes out here again, I'll find you and then I'll eat you. Consider yourself warned."

"Then, I'll be here tomorrow! After my own dinner and prayer!"

"…We'll see," Seren waved as he walked into the forest, disappearing once again from Cullen's sights. He remained hidden until he could see that the Templar had walked away after gathering his weapon and armor before turning his attention back to his original reason for being so close to the chantry borders. Kneeling down, he brushed away some fallen debris on a tombstone hidden in the thicket.

Here Lies Malcolm Hawke:

May Andraste Guide Him and Show Mercy When Others Did Not

Two candles were placed nearby, one on each side. The boy who had only recently lost his father leaned down to blow gently on the unlit wicks, igniting them with magic.